Ezekiel
Ghana’s National Football League (NFL) star, Ezekiel ‘Ziggy’ Ansah and members of his charity club, took time off to train young American Football lovers the rudiments of the game over the weekend at the University of Ghana.
Hundreds of students from senior high school, as well as tertiary students, participated in this year’s camp which saw them go through numerous drills and technicalities essential in playing the sport.
It was a fan-packed session as participants enjoyed playing the game and getting the first-time feel of NFL types of equipments. Eight distinctive stations were created to test the ability of players which included speed runs, jumps, dribbling, throws, blocks, tackles and many more.
For Ziggy, this year’s event was fun and he’s more committed to make the sport spread throughout the country.
“It's been a great organization, I have a great team who have been supportive throughout the process. The kids are having fun here, we've had a lot of support from local partners and that is going to be good for our youth,” Ziggy said.
Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Professor Peter Twumasi who was in attendance stated that students in elementary school will be taught American Football as part of physical education activities.
The former PRESEC student also welcomed the idea of Prof. Twumasi and asserted that given more opportunity, a lot of players will be nurtured and will eventually be drafted into the NFL.
According to Ziggy, “We want to introduce it to the schools so that they can add it to their physical education, having them learn the drills so they become familiar with it. This is a sport that is not common here in Ghana, I had to go to the States so that I can learn it but I'm trying to bring it down here so that the youth can learn it and eventually we are going to have people who will play out there because they have potential.”
Camp Director, Daniel Van Wisdom described the event as a “massive camp because lots of kids turn out to learn a lot. They’ve worked really hard and its fun seeing them go about their drills beaming in smiles. We taught them on how you play defense, go out for a pass and catch it.”
The foundation also rewarded deserving player and also gave out souvenirs to every player at the camp.
